GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Ben Davies, who recently made Rangers’ unexpected season-opening first start, vehemently denies that he ever considered leaving this summer, despite widespread claims to the contrary.
The 28-year-old left-sided center-back, a veteran for Alex Neil at Preston North End, joined Rangers from Liverpool last year for £4 million with the expectation of playing a significant role in the first team. Before traveling to St. Johnstone on Saturday, Rangers—who had dropped their previous two games to PSV Eindhoven and Celtic—ran out 2-0 winners. It had been a challenging debut season, and he had only been used as a substitute thus far this season.
Former Potter Jack Butland joined Davies in the starting lineup, and former Stoke loan strikers Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo, the latter of whom scored, came off the bench. An unutilized sub was Dujon Sterling. Now that manager Michael Beale has put his trust in him, the defender wants to reward him and claims he has something to prove to everyone else.
He told The Times, “I don’t know what was said above me [inside Rangers], but as far as I was concerned, I was a Rangers player and I wasn’t looking to transfer.
The manager claimed that I played a significant role in his future plans. I took that to heart and made sure to go become fit. Since he has been here, the manager has, in my opinion, placed a lot of trust in me.
“I feel like it’s about time I pay that back and gave some solid performances. I wish to work for him since we have a fantastic working relationship. I had a terrific sense of fitness. My lungs felt healthy. Going forward, I definitely need to make a point, and I had planned to do so on Saturday, but I still have a lot of work to do.
According to rumors in Scotland, Stoke reportedly tried to sign Davies on a loan before the deadline but were unsuccessful because of Rangers’ excessive price demands.
